POULSBO — Poulsbo residents Jeremy and Barbara Landis were looking for ways to improve the level of basketball in North Kitsap.

In founding West Side Hoops, the North End’s only select basketball organization, they believe they’ve found a way to do just that.

“We are the only select basketball club for basketball this area has ever had,” Barbara Landis said. “I’m not sure that the kids in Kitsap County are getting the competitive league experience they need.”

One year ago, the Landises decided to apply for non-profit status and create an organization they deemed would improve the level of play in the area.

Their own 501(c)3 non-profit is now two teams strong, one at the seventh grade level and one at the ninth grade level. An eighth grade team is on the way and is slated to start in the spring.

For Jeremy Landis, it’s all about preparing players to play competitively.

“Our goal as an organization is to give kids an opportunity to play basketball at a high level,” he said.

Jeremy Landis coaches the seventh grade squad while Rick Hoffer heads the ninth grade team. Both coaches are the assistants to the other.

The results among the two teams have been promising.

Just last weekend at the February Fastbreak tournament held on Bainbridge Island, the ninth grade boys made it to the semi-finals before losing to a select squad from Marysville. The seventh grade squad won the tournament, beating a select team from Seattle in the finals.

North Kitsap Vikings boys’ Coach Aaron Nations said he sees the select team as an opportunity for players to get competitive experience they’ll need for high school.

“(West Side Hoops) gives kids a chance to play at a more competitive level,” Nations said. “That’s something that hasn’t been seen in this area before.”

Nations added that skill development is important at that level, so they’ll be ready for the next one.

“It helps develop the skills of the kids who will play in junior high and high school,” Nations said.

The club is also looking into the possibility of building a facility for the select teams, as well as other basketball programs, in which to practice.

Barbara Landis said she believes it comes down to details in practice.

“Our practices are very detail oriented — you’ll learn all the different kinds of defensive sets,” she said. “Our kids even have their own playbooks.”

Junior high school players also compete on West Sides’ teams, including Kingston Cavalier Eric Schippers and Poulsbo Panther Mikal Harris.

Above all else, Barbara Landis said the program will develop some of North Kitsap’s young talent into the Viking stars of the future.

“I see (Vikings’ Coach Aaron Nations) having a really good selection of players during tryouts next year,” she added.